Before the Cubs' offense gradually warmed up, Lester tried to take matters into his own hands by ripping a double off the right field wall in the third. In the sixth, Lester drew a walk and stole second base without a throw — becoming the first Cubs pitcher with an extra base hit, a walk and a stolen base in a game since Charlie Root on May 3, 1930.

Cubs starters have allowed two earned runs in their past 20 2/3 innings.

Meanwhile, the Cubs finally started to wear down Braves starter Julio Teheran — who was scouted by the Royals — in the fifth. Teheran walked three in the inning and hurled a wild pitch that saw the Cubs take the lead on a two-run single by Ben Zobrist.

Anthony Rizzo hit his third home run in as many games, a solo shot that barely cleared the center field wall in the seventh.

Photos from the Cubs-Braves game on July 17, 2017, in Atlanta.

Without the designated hitter that was employed in Baltimore, Maddon admitted he was forced to become more resourceful with his lineup.

"One of the most difficult things I got going on is placing everyone every day," Maddon said before the game. "Our depth is that good. Everyone is healthy. That's part of the game plan right now. (Jon) Jay should be in the lineup more often, but how do you do that?

"It's a good problem to have. That's all it is."

Javier Baez started at shortstop for a resting Addison Russell, but Baez's errant throw in the third as he attempted to turn a double play sailed into the Braves dugout, where it struck a tablet.

The error cost the Cubs as Brandon Phillips singled to score Ender Inciarte, who stole third after being awarded second base on Baez's throw.

Baez made up for his miscue in the eighth by hustling for a double and scoring on Russell's pinch-hit double.

Ian Happ, who was visibly upset with a called third strike by umpire CB Bucknor with a runner at second to end the fourth, gained some redemption by leading off the sixth with a double.